The Scooter Man

WIM OUBOTER is a man who could walk down the street anonymously, and yet millions of people use his products daily. In this Expat Living exclusive, we talk with the engaging Swiss inventor about his Micro scooter, a new electric car and why Singapore is a world leader in e-scooter regulations.

- Katie Roberts

I meet Wim Ouboter at the home of White and Black Trading director and Micro scooter distributor Justinna Pank. (He’s used to much cooler temperatures in his hometown Zurich, so he’s feeling the humidity!) Wim is here in his capacity as founder and CEO of Micro Mobility Systems. Thousands of Micro scooters have been sold in Singapore since they launched here 10 years ago; they have revolutionised the mobility scene, and even influenced the creation of new legislation to accommodate electric scooters as a legitimate transport option.

Wim invented the first Micro scooter prototype in 1997 as a way to get to his favourite bistro – he thought it was too short a distance to go by bicycle or car. Since the commercial model launched in 2000, he has experienced phenomenal success, selling over five million units in 80 countries.

The range of scooters has been adapted and enlarged along the way, so that every member of the family – and every interest – is taken care of, from toddlers wanting to have a bit of outdoor fun, to adults interested in stunt-riding (Australians have even turned it into a sport). The company has created some nifty travel products, too.

World Leader

Wim admires how far Singapore is ahead of Europe in allowing the legal use of scooters in public areas. (Israel is Number Two, he says.) “Electric scooters are illegal in Europe. In Austria and Italy, it’s even illegal to leave home on a simple kick board scooter. Here, they’re very much embraced.

“The regulations are in place, the lawmakers are on board and, with its smooth roads and cycle paths (compared with, say, Italy’s old towns and cobblestone streets), it’s the perfect city for electric scooters,” he says. “It’s a case of the country keeping up with the demand that is being driven by innovation and technology.”

Imposters